‘Berlin’ Movie Review: Aparshakti Khurana and Ishwak Singh’s Movie Lacks the Sharpness of Being a Cerebral Spy Drama (LatestLY Exclusive)

Berlin Movie Review: In Berlin, Ishwak Singh's character harbours a grievance—he feels that people with disabilities receive little to no opportunities in this world, which becomes his motivation in the film. Despite my best efforts, I couldn’t overlook the irony of an able-bodied actor delivering these lines in a film where one could justifiably ask, "Why not cast an actual hearing-impaired actor to drive that point home even more strongly?" This is emblematic of a larger issue in Berlin, directed by Atul Sabharwal (Aurangzeb, Class of '83). The film has a promising premise and the makings of a masterpiece, with some good moments scattered throughout, yet its half-hearted approach to the storyline is evident overall. ‘Berlin’ Trailer: Aparshakti Khurana's Film to Premiere on ZEE5 on September 13.

Berlin is set in 1993, a time when the world is in the post-Cold War phase, and India is reeling from a series of bomb attacks in Mumbai. The President of Russia is due to visit New Delhi. Pushkin (Aparshakti Khurana), a teacher for the hearing-impaired, is forced to take leave as he is recruited by Sondhi (Rahul Bose), an IB officer. Sondhi wants Pushkin to interrogate Ashok (Ishwak Singh), a deaf and mute man who has been arrested on suspicion of being an assassin.

Watch the Trailer of 'Berlin':

The 'Berlin' in the title doesn’t refer to the capital of Germany but rather to the café where Ashok used to work—a meeting point for spies and intelligence officers. The plot of Berlin revolves around how this café is linked to the central mystery and whether a deaf and mute person could be trained as an assassin.

'Berlin' Movie Review - The Wavering Screenplay

The best parts of Berlin are, in fact, the interrogation scenes. The bond that develops between Pushkin, the interrogator, and Ashok, the interrogatee, is fluid and allows for the addition of layers to the mystery. Through Pushkin, the viewer is left to wonder why Ashok is in his predicament and why he remains so calm and composed despite the bruises on his face and the potential death sentence looming over him.

The screenplay has a lot of potential, continuously introducing twists and turns. There are influences from Chinatown and Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy, but as far as I know, Berlin maintains its originality, which is its greatest asset. That said, the screenplay, written by the director himself, isn’t without its share of flaws. There are moments where you question why something is happening or if there is a better way to untangle a plot point. For example, when Pushkin becomes more inquisitive than necessary, I found the reasoning behind Sondhi’s persistence with him unsatisfying.

When Pushkin gets caught between the IB and RAW, the subplot adds some tension to the proceedings. However, after a while, I felt that Pushkin was given too much importance. There’s a scene where even the agency head, Raman, played by Deepak Qazir Kejriwal, personally visits Pushkin to clarify certain matters, and I thought, “Why? He’s not that crucial to your plans.” It’s as if Sabharwal uses these scenes to deliver exposition to the audience, and I wish there had been a more effective way to do so.

Even less convincing is how Ashok becomes embroiled in the mess—mostly through his own actions—leading to a shaky third act. After keeping us guessing for nearly two-thirds of the movie, the final stretch of Berlin feels weakest. As the story unfolds and we learn why Ashok is in his situation, I can’t help but think things could have been handled less chaotically. Additionally, Ashok’s final decision regarding his fate is linked to his bond with Pushkin. Despite the film's attempts to build their relationship through the interrogation sessions, it didn’t feel strong enough to justify such a significant leap. Class of 83 Movie Review: A Pensive Bobby Deol and the Talented Newcomers Fight a Hard Battle Against Hazy Writing and Rushed Editing.

'Berlin' Movie Review - The Performances

The performances almost save the movie. Aparshakti Khurana is restrained and impactful, particularly in the interrogation scenes. He also shines in the riverside sequence after he betrays Sondhi. There was one moment, though, where he seemed a little unconvincing in a scene where he shouts at Sondhi through the interrogation room’s glass. Ishwak Singh is excellent despite the ironic casting (see the first paragraph). Even without dialogue, Singh conveys a great deal through his expressions and gestures, maintaining an intriguing air of mystery around his character.

Rahul Bose steps into an 'Akshaye Khanna' mode as the hard-nosed investigator with his own dark agenda, and he is dependable in the role.

Anupriya Goenka, the mysterious woman crucial to Ashok’s story, unfortunately, doesn’t have much scope to perform due to her brief screen time. This is frustrating since the unspoken bond between her and Ashok is critical to the events of the final act.

'Berlin' Movie Review - Final Thoughts

Berlin is a film that tantalises the viewer with the promise of greatness but falls short due to its inconsistent execution. There’s a compelling spy drama at its core, and the performances, especially from Aparshakti Khurana and Ishwak Singh, elevate the material. Still, the movie could have resonated more deeply with sharper focus and more cohesive storytelling. At best, Berlin feels a missed opportunity at delivering a smart and layered spy drama.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Sep 13, 2024 10:39 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).